The start of this 2021-22 edition will inevitably serve as a prelude and springboard for the big winter event, the Beijing Olympics (February 4-20).
Like every four years, the shadow of the Olympics will hover over the start of the season.
Between the fight for the big crystal globe and the quest for a gold medal, biathletes will have to find the right compromise, which could reshuffle the cards and the hierarchy of the circuit.
This vagueness is also maintained by the questions surrounding Johannes Boe's state of form.
Victim of a bad cold, the man with 52 victories (28 years old) had to draw a line on the Norwegian selections of Sjusjoen, on November 13 and 14, which welcomed other great powers of the discipline such as France and served as a full-scale test before the restart of the World Cup.
Returning from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics with a mixed record in solo (1 medal, gold on the individual) and therefore focused on Beijing, Boe could well leave during the first stages a few crumbs to his rivals, starting with his youngster compatriot Sturla Laegreid (24), who threatened him until the final race in 2020-2021, before finally being ahead of 13 small points in the general classification.
Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Boe poses with his large crystal globe, rewarding the best biathlete of the season in the World Cup, March 21, 2021 in Oestersund (Sweden) Anders WIKLUND TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP / Archives
Return of the public
But the sensational Laegreid, who only played one full season among the elite (7 individual successes, including 2 world gold medals) and revealed himself in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic as the most impressive biathlete behind the rifle, will have to deal with an essential factor: the return of the public.
Will he be as comfortable shooting under the shouts and encouragement of the spectators?
It will be the other unknown of this season.
The Norwegian Sturla Holm Laegreid, on the shooting range, during the mixed relay at the Biathlon World Championships, on February 10, 2021 in Pokljuka (Slovenia) Jure Makovec AFP / Archives
For the French, however, there is no question of making calculations and already thinking only of the Games.
This is the message sent by their coach Vincent Vittoz.
"There is competition in the team and there are only four places in the individual races and in the relay at the Olympics, explains the boss of the Blues. The start of the season will serve as a benchmark for this selection. Olympic. For confidence, it's better to start well. "
Even if he recognizes that "there is no confirmed leader", Vittoz assures that the Martin Fourcade page is indeed "turned".
The reality is much more nuanced, the Blues not having succeeded last season to titillate the Norwegians, their only feat of arms being the 2nd world title won by Emilien Jacquelin in pursuit at Pokljuka.
French Emilien Jacquelin poses with his gold medal, after winning the pursuit at the Biathlon World Championships, February 14, 2021 in Pokljuka (Slovenia) Jure Makovec AFP / Archives
"See very high"
Despite three victories and big globe ambitions proclaimed loud and clear, Quentin Fillon-Maillet remained stuck in 3rd place in the general classification for the 3rd consecutive year.
But no question of changing the discourse for the 29-year-old Jurassian.
The joy of French Quentin Fillon-Maillet, winner of the pursuit, counting for the Biathlon World Cup, December 12, 2020 in Hochfilzen (Austria) JOE KLAMAR AFP / Archives
"I do not want to hide behind objectives that would be below. I just want to see very high. The more it goes, the more I have experience, able to reassure myself and get closer to me. 'an Olympic gold medal, "he said.
For Emilien Jacquelin, the nasty fracture of the left wrist that occurred this summer disrupted his preparation and especially pushed him to refocus on a major target: the Olympics.
"The plans are reviewed with this injury, he said. The Games become the challenge that excites me, much more than playing the general classification."
On the women's side, it will be very difficult for the French, who remain on two very delicate exercises, to thwart the Norwegian duo Tiril Eckhoff-Marte Olsbu Roeiseland.
The urgency is above all to find a remedy for the recurring ills of the Blue women behind the rifle.
The Norwegian Tiril Eckhoff passes the baton to her compatriot Marte Roeiseland, during the mixed relay at the Biathlon World Championships, on February 10, 2021 in Pokljuka (Slovenia) Joe Klamar AFP / Archives
“We need more work requirements, admits Jean-Paul Giachino, in charge of shooting. They have the technique but when an athlete does not succeed it is because he lets himself be polluted by the emotional state. changed coaches three times in three years, the coaching waltz did not help. "
© 2021 AFP